My Story & Why I Created the Courage Couture Gala

I’m Leah, a survivor of sexual violence, and my journey to healing has not been easy. As a survivor of color, I faced disbelief, dismissal, and silence.

For years, I carried the weight of my trauma alone, and it took nine long years for my rape kit to finally be tested. The system wasn’t built to support me or countless survivors like me. The road to justice, healing, and community felt impossible at times.

I created the Courage Couture Gala because no survivor should have to walk that path alone. This gala is more than an event. It’s a space for survivors of all forms of gender-based violence to heal, connect, and feel seen and supported.

It’s also a space for advocates, service providers, and allies to come together to end gender-based violence and show survivors that their stories matter.

Watch this short video from SAAVE ME, our PSA from 2018, which shines light on why safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence are so important.

With your support, we can provide survivors with resources, empowerment, and a community that truly sees them. Every donation makes a difference:

$10 – Provides a thank-you card and note of encouragement for a survivor.

$20 – Helps purchase items from our gala Amazon wish list, filling in the few remaining needs.

$50 – Supports the creation and printing of our gala program, helping share the stories and information for the night.

$75 – Contributes to swag bag items and helps purchase swag bags for attendees.

$100 – Kicks off the Nicole Patrice Forney Educational Scholarship Fund, in honor of my mother, a survivor herself, helping survivors of gender-based violence offset the cost of returning to school and pursuing their education.

Together, we can celebrate courage, resilience, and the power of community. Please help us support survivors—so they can bloom, heal, and soar.

With deep gratitude,

Leah M. Forney

Founder, The SAAVE ME Movement

Visionary of Courage Couture Gala